250 Expedition to the 



near the mcuth of the Platte, and challenged him immedi- 

 ately to single combat, with any weapons he might choose, 

 either agreeably to the manner of the whites, or to the usual 

 Indian mode, of either combatant availing himself of oppor- 

 tunity or stratagem. The trader refusing to fight, Hard-heart 

 departed, declaring he would come again in the morning, in 

 order to put him to death as a coward, u and," said he, " the 

 Wahconda' himself will not be able to save you." The trader 

 for security, assembled around his hut several Oto warriors 

 as a guard, so that when the chief returned agreeably to his 

 promise, to execute his threat, he could not gain admittance. 

 After waiting a long time in vain, he at length sent word to 

 the trader that he forgave him and would not injure him. 

 The trader on receiving this information., having sufficient 

 confidence in his good faith, dismissed his guards > and some 

 time afterward, we observed them riding together, on their 

 return from the Pawnee villages, to which they had accom. 

 panied the Oto nation. 



About a twelvemonth before our arrival at Engineer can- 

 tonment, Hashea (the Cut-nose) and the Brave, two highly 

 distinguished warriors of the Oto nation, had a very serious 

 quarrel, which their friends could not perfectly adjust, but 

 only succeeded in preventing a personal combat. Since our 

 departure for the Rocky Mountains, Major O'Fallon in- 

 forms us, that this hostility, still further aggravated by 

 another incident, has terminated fatally. The nephew of the 

 Brave grossly insulted, by his pertinacious addresses, the wife 

 of Hashea, whilst the latter warrior was absent on a war ex- 

 cursion. On his return, heing informed of the indignity of- 

 fered to his wife, he sought the offender, knocked him down 

 with his war club, and beat him with great severity. The 

 Brave was summoned by his friends, who seeing the bruised 

 condition of his relative, vowed revenge. He provided a 

 large <>harp pointed knife, and throwing his bison robe over 

 his arm, by way of shield, he sallied out and passed twice 



